Transgender student beaten in 'vicious attack' at N.J. school

NEWARK -- A 14-year-old transgender student was beaten by several fellow students at East Side High School in an assault that authorities said they are investigating as an alleged bias crime.

Kylie Perez told PIX11 she was punched and kicked Tuesday in a school hallway after a girl shouted "there's the tranny." Perez told the station she has been targeted by bullies who called her anti-gay slurs. She transitioned in 6th grade, according to the report.

The city's mayor, Ras Baraka, said he was "appalled" by the assault and planned to contact Perez and her family.

"I join the LGBTQI community as well as the parents, students, and citizens of Newark who are appalled by the recent bullying and vicious attack on fourteen-year-old Kylie Perez, a transgender student, at East Side High School," the mayor said in a statement.

"We must remain vigilant as a community and continue to denounce and to prosecute the hate crimes that are perpetrated upon members of the LGBTQI community," Baraka added. "This act was particularly egregious because the victim is a young teen whose attackers assailed her without warning."

School officials immediately alerted authorities, said Newark Public Schools spokeswoman Tracy Munford, who said she could not comment further.

"We were notified immediately and we immediately notified the Newark Police Department," the school spokeswoman said.

Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter confirmed the agency and city police were investigating the incident as an alleged bias crime.

Authorities said no charges have been filed in the case as the investigation continued.